Jian Tianming

"Quite bold!" He pointed his blade straight into the air, his voice thick with anger. "Since you dare interfere in the King Zhenbei Army's affairs in broad daylight, do you dare leave your name?!"

A soft laugh suddenly rang out above the long street. The voice seemed both near and far, as if it came from the edge of the sky, yet also right beside their ears. There was a hint of amusement and mockery in it. "My name?" the voice drawled. "Tell that man in the northern frontier—"

"This is the Imperial Capital, where imperial authority reigns supreme. This is the imperial family's territory!"

Before the words had even fully faded, the battle saber in the Commander's hand suddenly shuddered violently with a resonant hum, as if some invisible force were tugging at it.

More terrifying still, his right arm—the one gripping the saber—had somehow become encased in a thick layer of ice. The bone-chilling cold coursed along his meridians like a surging undercurrent, rushing straight toward his heart.

"Pfft!" The Commander could no longer hold back and abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He was a mighty Second Level Dharma Aspect Realm expert, yet someone had wounded him so easily...

"Fall back! Quickly!"

Knowing he had encountered a formidable opponent, the Commander didn't dare linger another moment. He immediately fled the scene in disgrace.

The onlookers witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help whispering among themselves, their guesses rising one after another.

Most thought that perhaps the imperial family simply couldn't stand the King Zhenbei Army's overbearing ways, and had secretly stepped in to teach them a lesson.

After Chen Lin had finished, a faint smile appeared on his face. Then his figure flickered like a ghost, and in the blink of an eye he was standing before the maid.

He gently raised a hand, and a soft, mysterious power descended upon the maid like the warm spring sun.

It was as if a pair of invisible, gentle hands were lifting the maid to her feet. At the same time, her horrifying injuries rapidly healed, vanishing like snow beneath the sun.

Just then, Elder Qin and the others finally arrived.

Elder Qin surveyed the area and saw that the Commander of the King Zhenbei Army had vanished. Confusion stirred in his heart, and he asked, "Where is he?"

But when his gaze shifted to Chen Lin's black robe, his expression changed in an instant. He thought to himself that the situation just now must have been the work of the Myriad Law Heavenly Sovereign.

"Elder Qin, I just got here, and I find the people from your Four Directions Merchant Association aren't very capable. They let others bully them so easily."

Chen Lin spoke with a smile.

Though his arrival had been remarkably sudden, clearly no one present would connect him to the person who had secretly intervened earlier.

At that moment, Chen Lin deliberately revealed his cultivation. His aura flowed, displaying the Ninth Level Divine Vault Realm!

Elder Qin sensed it and thought, How could he be at the Ninth Level Divine Vault Realm?!

He must be disguising his cultivation. Otherwise, with my insight, how could I so easily discern his level? He's far stronger than I am!

Chen Lin must have done this to dispel the suspicions of those around them.

"What brings you here? Come inside with me," Elder Qin said with a cold snort.

Even he hadn't expected that one day he would speak to Chen Lin in such a tone.

After all, as far as he knew, Chen Lin was far more powerful than he was. He ought to have approached such a strong cultivator with reverence.

But since Chen Lin was disguising himself as a Ninth Level Divine Vault Realm cultivator, Elder Qin naturally couldn't show him the same respect as before. Otherwise, others might notice something amiss.

Chen Lin followed Elder Qin inside.

The onlookers had witnessed the whole scene and couldn't help wondering about it.

Seeing how familiar Elder Qin seemed with Chen Lin, they decided he was probably a cultivator who frequented the Four Directions Merchant Association.

After all, although many people came and went at the Four Directions Merchant Association, anyone Elder Qin knew so well must have an extraordinary status.

They also considered Chen Lin's revealed Ninth Level Divine Vault Realm cultivation. He was already close to becoming a Dharma Aspect Realm expert. Perhaps some unfathomably powerful old monster stood behind him.

The crowd whispered among themselves for quite a while before gradually returning to their usual business.

Chen Lin followed Elder Qin to an elegant room.

Elder Qin turned to face Chen Lin, unable to hide his delight.

"Heavenly Lord, your timing couldn't be better! The Four Directions Merchant Association happens to have a thorny matter we'd like to ask you to handle."

"If you can help us resolve it, we're willing to offer you a Heaven Tier Martial Skill unconditionally, along with a Storage Ring whose space is as vast as a palace and filled to the brim with resources!"

Chen Lin's heart stirred slightly at that.

A Heaven-tier cultivation technique was a precious manual countless cultivators dreamed of obtaining. Add in a mountain of resources, and the reward was truly generous.

But such an enticing reward surely meant the task wouldn't be easy. Still, there was no harm in hearing them out.

"What is it?" Chen Lin asked calmly.

Elder Qin sighed softly and began, "The Four Directions Merchant Association has three major families within it. At present, the Lin Family, which the Guild Master belongs to, is the leading one."

"However, the other two families intend to join forces with Ling Cangqiong. He's promised them quite a few benefits. But they don't want to make a move themselves, so they've hired a Dharma Aspect Realm Rogue Cultivator from outside the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty to represent them in working with Ling Cangqiong."

"Our Guild Master has already chosen to support the First Prince, so he naturally won't let them have their way. That's why we hope Your Lordship will step in and take care of the rogue cultivator. I was just planning to contact you through His Highness, but you came in person."

A gleam flashed in Chen Lin's eyes.

Ling Cangqiong was trying to win over the families of the Four Directions Merchant Association.

The association controlled vital resources of all kinds—food, treasures, weapons, and more. In wartime, these were all indispensable.

What's more, he was supporting his disciple. Ling Cangqiong was practically making an enemy of his son.

It was obvious who he would help.

"Give me his information," Chen Lin said.

Since they intended to eliminate the man, Elder Qin and the others must have gathered quite a bit of information about him.

And after idling around Tianyan City for so long, he could finally go out and have a look!

Getting rid of the man would be a simple task.

Elder Qin's face immediately broke into a broad smile.

It was only natural. The Guild Master supported the First Prince, while the other two families leaned toward Ling Cangqiong. As the First Prince's master, the Heavenly Lord's willingness to help was only to be expected.

Without hesitation, he took out a dossier and handed it to Chen Lin.

[Name: Jian Tianming]

[ cultivation: Eighth Level Dharma Aspect]

[Technique: Unknown]

[Treasure: Heavenly Artifact · Dao Slaying Sword]

Chen Lin quickly scanned the dossier, secretly taken aback. Jian Tianming's cultivation was no small matter; he had already reached the Eighth Level Dharma Aspect.

Judging from the various signs, he had most likely cultivated sword-related techniques and martial skills. His strength was surely formidable.

Elder Qin continued, "The Guild Master had originally wanted to eliminate him, but worried that doing so would alert the heads of the other two families too soon. So he sent me to ask what you thought first. Meanwhile, the Guild Master also spared no expense in hiring another expert."

"Now that you've agreed to step in, the Guild Master can tell that expert to stand down. We'll still have to pay him some resources, but fortunately, it won't cost too much."